Bahrain job market will eventually be taken over by citizens: Deputy Speaker

TDT | Manama                                                

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com     

Report by Ashen Tharaka

A rising number of Bahraini businesses are laying off foreign workers in jobs that can be carried out by citizens, it has been revealed. 

This is consistent with government policy, which obliges organisations, both public and private, to give Bahrainis first priority when filling vacancies. 

According to Abdul Nabi Salman, the First Deputy Speaker of the Bahrain Parliament, Bahrainization is the government's main objective for the economic growth cycle's sustainability.

From 2012 until the pandemic's breakout, Bahrain's unemployment rate hovered between 3.7 and 4 percent before rising to 7.5 percent. Since then, the government has steadily reduced it to 5.4, with the goal of keeping it below 3.5.

Aside from construction, there is no scarcity of work for Bahrainis in any other field, said Mr. Salman.

"Bahrainis are required to work in every industry throughout the year in order to preserve the country's economic growth and to guarantee that nationalisation is done in order to strengthen the long-term viability of the labour market."

According to GOSI figures for 2022, 50,000 individuals work in the government or public sector, whereas 614,000 work in the private sector. The private sector employs 100,000 Bahrainis and 514,000 foreign employees.

"Today, we have foreign employees working in various sectors throughout the country while we train Bahraini citizens to take over these jobs."

Expats will gradually be replaced by Bahrainis for the same occupations since our objective is to have citizens as the first choice in the employability process."

He stated that white-collar employment in the private sector may be completely taken over by Bahrainis in the near future.

"This process will take time, but it is underway, and companies are working hard to replace expatriates with citizens." Foreigners shall be hired only when they are absolutely essential owing to unique credentials."

Abdul Nabi Salman went on to say that "white collar non-Bahraini employees can be given priority in their countries unless the position and specialisation are required in our country."We must study the credentials and abilities of foreign employees before placing them in the labour market, as well as the additional values they wish to provide to the national economy." 

With the support of Bahrain's political and legal frameworks, the government has begun educating and training Bahrainis for the job market. 
"We anticipate making things happen and focusing on hiring Bahrainis rather than foreign workers in the job market."

"The Council of Representatives focused on this issue by forming inquiry committees to investigate the actual numbers and statistics of Bahraini citizens employed. We also submitted findings and remedies for unemployment in Bahrain that are still being investigated by the government.

Other ideas were also made through the government action plan, investigation committees, and parliamentary dome debates."

Bahrain has recently taken many measures to limit the number of foreigners working in the country, who send about BD1.2 billion ($3.2 billion) to their home countries each year, accounting for more than 8 percent of Bahrain's GDP. 

Approximately 72 percent of non-Bahraini employees in the private sector earn less than BD200 per month, primarily in the carpentry, plumbing, building, contracting, and construction sectors.

Meanwhile, 4 percent of foreigners working in the private sector earn more than BD1,000 each month.